Waterproof, handheld electronic device enclosure

ABSTRACT

A waterproof enclosure for enclosing a handheld electronic device is described. The enclosure includes a flexible bag having an interior cavity for enclosing the handheld electronic device and an opening for insertion of the device into the bag cavity, a closure for releasibly sealing the bag opening, and a sealable exhaust tube extending from the bag cavity to the exterior of the bag for use in evacuating air from the bag cavity when the opening is sealed. The tube preferably includes a one-way valve allowing air to flow from the bag cavity, but not into the bag cavity. A detachable means, such as a rubber bulb, may be included to withdraw air from the cavity through the tube. The case may also include an electronic jack extending from the bag cavity to the exterior of the bag.

This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No.61/268,040, entitled “Waterproof, Handheld Electronic Device Enclosure”,filed Jun. 8, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a waterproof enclosure orcase for housing a cellular telephone or other handheld electronicdevice to prevent exposure of the device to water, while stillpermitting operation and use of the device, and in particular to awaterproof enclosure for housing a handheld device that includes an airevacuation means to create a vacuum within the interior of the enclosureso that the enclosure interior and device remains watertight during use,and viewing and use of the device is enhanced.

(2) Description of the Prior Art

Handheld electronic devices, e.g., cellular telephones, personal digitalassistants (PDAs), personal computers including the IPad, and eBookreaders such as the Kindle, are now used by most individuals. Due totheir portability and their ability to communicate via a wirelessconnection to the telephone system and the Internet, these devices arecarried everywhere by their users, including to locations where thedevices could be damaged due to the surrounding conditions.

For example, as it relates to the present invention, the devices arefrequently carried near, or even in, bodies of water, such as swimmingpools, lakes, the ocean, etc. Electronic devices are easily damaged byexposure to even small amounts of water and can be completely ruined ifsubmerged. Nonetheless, users continue to carry these devices whenengaged in water-related recreational activities, feeling that theconvenience of ever-available communications outweigh the risk.

The prior art has proposed to address this circumstance by offeringwaterproof enclosures into which the devices may be inserted when thereis a risk of exposure to water. These enclosures are generally comprisedof an at least partially transparent, flexible bag sized to receive theparticular device, or at least includes a transparent window, so thatthe graphical display of the device can be seen. The bag, or a partthereof, is sufficiently flexible to permit operation of the devicecontrols. An opening is included in the bag for insertion of the device,with a waterproof closure means being provided to seal the opening afterthe device is inserted. A waterproof jack may be provided in the wall ofthe bag to connect earphones or other external accessories to thedevice.

One advantage claimed by the sellers of these bags is that air trappedinside the bag when the bag is sealed is often sufficient to providepositive buoyancy to the bag even with the enclosed device, therebycausing the bag to float if it is inadvertently dropped into the water.This buoyancy is increased in some products by providing a means forpumping air into the device.

However, it has been observed that with prior art enclosures air willtry to escape under pressure when the enclosures are brought underwaterin exchange with the surrounding water. In addition, the presence of airinside the bag negatively affects the optimal use of the handhelddevice. In particular, the air separates the bag wall from the devicecontrols, reducing the ability of the user to firmly contact thecontrols. This problem is particularly apparent with touch screencontrols. In addition, the air cushion makes it difficult to communicatethrough the bag wall where the device includes an internal microphone.Therefore, it is an objective of the present invention to provide anenclosure for a handheld electronic device that will remain watertightwhen submerged, with improved usability of the enclosed device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Generally, the waterproof enclosure of the present invention iscomprised of a waterproof housing that includes a means to exhaust airfrom the interior of the housing, thereby creating a vacuum within thehousing interior. This vacuum, or negative pressure, created inside theenclosure, prevents a “gas-liquid exchange” with the surrounding watersince, by creating a vacuum, there is nothing left to exchange with thewater. The vacuumed enclosure, therefore, provides a watertight seal.

The housing is in the form of a collapsible pouch or bag made from aflexible waterproof material having an interior cavity shaped anddimensioned to accommodate the handheld electronic device beingprotected. The bag includes a closable opening sized to facilitateinsertion of the device into the cavity, with a closure to seal theopening after the device is inserted. At least a part of the bag istransparent to permit viewing of the display and controls of theinserted device.

For example, the bag may be formed of two generally rectangular sheetsof transparent, waterproof plastic that are sealed to each other attheir edges except at the opening, which is preferably in one end of thebag. The sheets may initially be separate sheets, or a double size sheetfolded onto itself. The closure may be formed to two attachable sectionsjoined to opposed sides of the opening, having a latch to secure thesections together to seal the opening. In this construction, the sheetsform the front and rear walls of the housing.

For most uses, the housing will have an electrical interface jackextending through the wall of the housing to provide a means forattaching head or ear phones, or other electronic accessories, to thehandheld device sealed inside the housing. The jack has an internalconnector, which may include a cable, for attachment to the device, andan external connector for attachment to the accessory, with the twoconnectors being in waterproof communication.

The air evacuation means in its simplest form may be a tube or portextending from the interior cavity of the bag to the exterior of thebag, with means to seal the port after evacuating air from the bag,e.g., by sucking on the port and then quickly closing the port after theair has been evacuated from the bag. Preferably, the air evacuationmeans includes a one-way valve allowing air to flow from the interior ofthe bag, but not into the interior of the bag.

The tube can be adapted for releasable attachment to an evacuation pumpdesigned to withdraw air from the cavity through the one-way valve. Forexample, the pump may be in the form of a hand-operated squeeze bulbhaving an intake opening to receive a tubular valve projection and anexhaust opening having a one-way exhaust valve in the opposite end ofthe bulb to exhaust air from the bulb interior.

In operation, the bulb is attached to the valve and squeezed to removeair from the bulb. When pressure on the bulb is removed, the bulbmaterial, e.g., molded rubber, resumes its extended configuration,drawing air through the valve from the cavity and into the interior ofthe bulb. The bulb is again squeezed to exhaust air from the bulbinterior through the one-way exhaust valve. This procedure is repeateduntil most of the air in the housing cavity interior has been removedand a vacuum created.

After removal of the air from the housing cavity interior, theadvantages of the present invention become evident. Instead of thedevice being surrounded by an air pillow as in previous waterproofenclosures, the flexible, transparent wall of the current housing isfirmly and uniformly held against the surface of the handheld device bythe cavity vacuum. As a result, controls of the electronic device can bemore easily operated.

This is particularly true of touch-screen controls like those found onthe I-Phone and other devices which are activated due to the capacitanceor proximity of the user's finger, which is reduced in prior devices dueto the air cushion between the housing and the controls. In addition,where the device is a cellular telephone or other handheld device thatincludes an internal microphone, the adjacency of the housing wall andmicrophone enhances communication of the user, whereas in prior artdevices, the user's voice was muffled by the presence of the aircushion.

The pump may be detached from the one-way valve after the air isevacuated from the enclosure cavity. However, if desired, the user mayleave the pump attached to the valve. If so, the pump, which may have abright, easily noticed color, can also act as a flotation device toprevent sinking of the enclosure and device if it is dropped into thewater. When the bulb is to be used for this purpose, the bulb is sizedto provide positive buoyancy to the combined enclosure and device.

It will be appreciated that the enclosure or case, the terms being usedinterchangeably, may include other features. For example the enclosuremay include an opening or other attachment means to secure a strap,lanyard, carbineer, or other means to attach the enclosure to the user'swrist, belt, etc. Alternatively, or in addition, the enclosure mayinclude an arm band, preferably attached to the back wall of theenclosure. The band, which is sized to fit around some part of theuser's arm, may be elastic, or may be secured around the arm with alatching means, such as a buckle or hook and loop fastener. Otherfeatures may also be incorporated into the enclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of the enclosure housing a cellular telephone.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the enclosure of FIG. 1, but with theevacuation bulb removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, terms such as horizontal, upright,vertical, above, below, beneath, and the like, are used solely for thepurpose of clarity in illustrating the invention, and should not betaken as words of limitation. The drawings are for the purpose ofillustrating the invention and are not intended to be to scale.

As illustrated, the enclosure, generally 10, is comprised of a generallyrectangular front wall 12 attached at its side and bottom edges to alike-sized rear wall 14. While walls 12 and 14 are both fullytransparent as illustrated, it will be apparent that rear wall 14 can bewholly or partially transparent if visual access to a part of the houseddevice is not required, and that front wall 12 may include only atransparent window instead of being entirely transparent.

Joined walls 12 and 14 form an open-topped bag having an interior cavityand a top opening 16 sized to receive a handheld electronic device,illustrated as cellular telephone 18. A closure comprised of front andback sections 20 and 22, respectively, are secured to the top edges ofwalls 12 and 14 and are connectable by latches 24 to provide awaterproof seal of opening 16.

An interface jack 26 extends through a watertight seal in the bag, inthis case through the bottom of the bag between walls 12 and 14. Jack 26includes an internal connector and cable 28 to connect to phone 18, andan external connector to attach external accessories, e.g., earphones.It will be understood that jack 26 is optional and not necessary whereattachment of external accessories is not contemplated.

Enclosure 10 also includes a one-way air valve 30 extending between theinterior cavity of enclosure 10 and the exterior of enclosure 10. Valve30 includes an interior opening 32 to receive air from the cavity ofenclosure 10 and an exterior exhaust tube 34 to attach to evacuationpump, illustrated in the preferred embodiment as compressible bulb 36.Tube 34 may be ribbed to facilitate a secure attachment of pump 36.

Bulb 36 has an expanded state which it resumes when not squeezed due tothe memory of the bulb material, e.g., rubber, and a compressed statewhen squeezed. Bulb 36 includes an intake opening insertable over valvetube 34 and a discharge opening 38 including a one-way valve 40. Theinterior volume of bulb 36 is sized to provide positive buoyancy toenclosure 10 and device 18 when bulb 36 is attached to evacuatedenclosure 10. Valve 30 may also include a cap 42 that can be fitted overconnector tube 34 after bulb 36 is detached.

Enclosure 10 also includes an opening 44 in the closure for a cord orother means to attach enclosure 10 to the user. In addition, enclosure10 includes arm strap 46 for attachment around the user's arm.

In use, the device to be protected, e.g., phone 18 is inserted into thecavity of enclosure 10 and enclosure opening 16 is sealed by sections 20and 22 of the closure. Bulb 36 is attached to valve 30 as many times asrequired to evacuate air from the cavity. After removal of air from thecavity interior, wall 12 is firmly held against the face of phone 36 andagainst touch-screen tactile controls 48 due to the vacuum that iscreated inside enclosure 10. As a result, controls 48 are much morereliably operated by the user's fingers. In addition, the wall is firmlyagainst microphone 50 providing greater clarity of the user's voice whenusing the device. Also, if ear phones are not attached, the other partycan be heard through internal phone speaker 52.

Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled inthe art upon a reading of the foregoing description. For example, theenclosure can be used for other purposes, such as to provide waterproofprotection for wallets and other items carried by the user around water.In addition, the bulb can be positioned inside the enclosure, with theattachment to the valve reversed so that the bulb is squeezed until thecavity is evacuated and then left inside the cavity during use. Itshould be understood that all such modifications and improvements havebeen deleted herein for the sake of conciseness and readability but areproperly within the scope of the following claims.

1. A waterproof enclosure for enclosing a handheld electronic devicecomprising: a) a flexible bag having an interior cavity for enclosing ahandheld electronic device and an opening for insertion of said deviceinto said cavity; b) a closure for releasibly sealing said opening; andc) a sealable exhaust tube extending from said bag cavity to theexterior of said bag for use in evacuating air from said bag cavity. 2.The enclosure of claim 1, wherein said exhaust tube includes a one-waycheck valve allowing air to flow only from the bag cavity to the bagexterior.
 3. The enclosure of claim 1, further including means towithdraw air from said cavity through said tube.
 4. The enclosure ofclaim 1, further including an electronic jack extending from said bagcavity to the exterior of said bag.
 5. The enclosure of claim 1, whereinsaid bag includes a transparent front wall.
 6. The enclosure of claim 1,wherein said bag includes front and back walls with side edges andbottom edges, the side and bottom edges of said walls being joined.
 7. Awaterproof enclosure for enclosing a handheld electronic devicecomprising: a) a flexible bag having an interior cavity for enclosing ahandheld electronic device and an opening for insertion of said deviceinto said cavity; b) a closure for releasibly sealing said opening; andc) a sealable exhaust tube with a one-way check valve extending fromsaid bag cavity to the exterior of said bag for use in evacuating airfrom said bag cavity.
 8. The enclosure of claim 7, further including acompressible bulb to withdraw air from said cavity through said tube. 9.The enclosure of claim 7, further including an electronic jack extendingfrom said bag cavity to the exterior of said bag.
 10. The enclosure ofclaim 7, wherein said bag includes a transparent front wall.
 11. Theenclosure of claim 7, wherein said bag includes front and back wallswith side edges and bottom edges, the side and bottom edges of saidwalls being joined.
 12. The enclosure of claim 7, wherein said closureis comprised of two attachable sections joined to opposed sides of theopening, with a latch releasibly securing the sections together to closethe opening.
 13. The enclosure of claim 7, wherein said flexible bag istransparent.
 14. The enclosure of claim 7, further including an arm bandfor attachment of said enclosure to a user's arm.
 15. A waterproofenclosure for enclosing a handheld electronic device comprising: a) aflexible bag having an interior cavity for enclosing a handheldelectronic device and an opening for insertion of said device into saidcavity; b) a closure for releasibly sealing said opening; c) a sealableexhaust tube with a one-way check valve extending from said bag cavityto the exterior of said bag for use in evacuating air from said bagcavity; d) an electronic jack extending from said bag cavity to theexterior of said bag; and e) a compressible means to withdraw air fromsaid cavity through said tube.
 16. The enclosure of claim 15, whereinsaid electronic jack extending include a first connector within said bagcavity to attach to a handheld electronic device, and an exteriorconnector.
 17. The enclosure of claim 15, wherein said bag includesfront and back walls with side edges and bottom edges, the side andbottom edges of said walls being joined.
 18. The enclosure of claim 15,wherein said closure is comprised of two attachable sections joined toopposed sides of the opening, with a latch releasibly securing thesections together to close the opening.
 19. The enclosure of claim 15,wherein said flexible bag is transparent.
 20. The enclosure of claim 15,further including an arm band for attachment of said enclosure to auser's arm.